Recognise the Signs: What You Need to Know During Stalking Awareness Week

This week marks the annual National Stalking Awareness Week, running from the 22nd to the 26th of April.

During this significant week, Devon & Cornwall Police are joining the campaign to shine a light on stalking and offer vital information to help the public identify and report such behaviours.

Campaign Launch: Radio and Online Focus

Starting from April 22, residents in Devon and Cornwall will encounter a series of radio advertisements broadcast on the Greatest Hits digital radio network. These ads will focus on the mnemonic “F.O.U.R.”, which stands for Fixated, Obsessed, Unwanted, and Repeated, to help listeners recognise stalking behaviour.

The “Romcom” Video Warning

In a creative twist, the campaign features a video styled as a romantic comedy trailer, which serves as a stark warning against trivialising persistent and unwanted behaviours that can escalate into serious stalking cases. This video demonstrates how actions, which might seem harmless individually, can cumulate into oppressive and sinister patterns. The video is available on the Devon & Cornwall Police YouTube channel and is being promoted across various online platforms including the Greatest Hits network.

Chief Inspector Dawn’s Message

Chief Inspector Dawn Perriam emphasises the importance of recognising stalking signs early through the campaign’s efforts. “We hope that our video, online and radio campaign will provide some recognisable examples of stalking behaviours so that you, or the family or friends of someone who has an abusive ex-partner, can recognise the signs at the earliest opportunity so that it can be reported to the police.”

Legal Protections and Support

Devon & Cornwall Police remind the public that stalking behaviours do not need to include acts of violence to be prosecutable. Stalking Protection Orders and other legal measures can be enacted to protect victims and charge offenders. For additional support, victims can connect with an Independent Stalking Advocacy Caseworker (ISAC) provided through Victim Support, enhancing the guidance and help through any legal proceedings.

Resources and Helplines

The police urge anyone suspecting they are a victim of stalking to visit their dedicated stalking and harassment page. Additional resources include the National Stalking Helpline (0808 802 0300) and the Paladin National Stalking Advocacy Service. The Suzy Lamplugh Trust offers an online tool to help victims identify stalking behaviours, and the Alice Ruggles Trust provides insights into more specific concerns like phone hacking.

With these resources and the ongoing campaign, Devon & Cornwall Police hope to reduce incidents of stalking by making the public more aware of the signs and the available help. Remember, if you or someone you know is experiencing behaviour that is fixated, obsessed, unwanted, and repeated, it’s time to seek help. It’s not romantic — it’s stalking.